Christopher Atkins is revisiting one of the most talked-about parts of his career, which is his body. In a recent interview, the 64-year-old actor opened up about his early rise to fame, the image Hollywood built around him, and how it all started with one bold role.
Atkins, who was best known for his breakout in The Blue Lagoon, instantly became a symbol of youthful desire in the 1980s. From that moment, it seemed the industry couldn’t get enough of his physique. As he reflected on his past work, he shared funny and personal moments from his career.
Christopher Atkins’ speedo scene in ‘Dallas’ was because of his role in ‘Blue Lagoon’
Following the success of The Blue Lagoon, Atkins quickly found himself cast in roles that played up his looks, especially his body. He revealed that many of his early projects seemed less interested in his acting and more focused on showing skin. By the time he joined the cast of Dallas as camp counselor Peter Richards, the trend had reached a new peak.
Throughout his 27-episode appearance on the prime-time soap, Atkins was dressed in little more than a tight Speedo. He said the show’s producers gave him a wardrobe that left almost nothing to the imagination, and it wasn’t long before he received an unexpected note from the network about his swimwear, and they had assumed he was trying to enhance his appearance on-screen.
What was Christopher Atkins’ role in ‘Blue Lagoon’?
Atkins’ journey into fame began with a film that was as controversial as it was unforgettable. In The Blue Lagoon, an 18-year-old Atkins played a shipwrecked teen stranded on an island with his cousin, portrayed by Brooke Shields. The role required full nudity and placed him at the center of Hollywood conversation almost overnight.
He shared that the nude scenes were never a surprise because they had been discussed thoroughly with his team before filming began. What stood out to him was how the film was presented. The director’s approach made it feel artistic rather than exploitative, which gave Atkins the confidence to move forward with the role.